Draft-inducing means for locomotives and the like.



H, B. MACPARLAND. DRAFT INDUGING MEANS FOR LOCOMOTIVES AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED, DEC. 20, 1013.

1,125,361. Patented Jan.19, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

n. W: t 22 @swasn' 131 men for,

H. B. MACFARLAND. DRAFT INDUGING MEANS FOR LOCOMOTIVES AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED DBG.20,1913.

1,125,361 Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. B. 'MACFARLAND. DRAFT INDUOING MEANS FOR LOCOMOTIVES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED 13110.20, 1913. I 1, 125,36 1. Patented Jan, 19, 1915.

HELON B. MACI 'ARLAND, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS."

DRAFT-INDUCING MEANS FOR- LOCOMOTI'JES THE application filed December 20, 1913. Serial No. 807,893. I

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hinton B. MACFAR- LAND, a citizen of the United States. and resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft lnduo ing Means for Locomotives and the like. of which the following is a description, refer ence being had to the accompanying dran ings, which form a part of my specification.

My invention relates to means for mechanically inducing the draft in a loccmd tive; and has for'its object the provision of a construction whereby the draft inducing means will be automatically controlled. so that the draft induced will be commensurate with service conditions, thus resulting in a locomotive wherein combustion is more economically induced than is the case with constructions as heretofore employed.

A further object of the invention is the provision of draft inducing means which will he at all times under the regulation and control of the engineer; and wherein the exhaust steam from the steam chests of the cylinders will beunrestrictedly discharged into the atmosphere, so that the hack pressure heretofore encountered will be eliminated; the advantages of my improved c0nstruction being readily apparent from the followii'ig detailed description.

In the drawingsz -Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View and partial side elevation of the frontor smoke-box end of a locomotive illustrating my invention in side elevation; with only a portion of a steam chest and cylinder being shown. and a portion of the exhaust steam conveying means being broken away. while the remainder is shown in section. Fig. 2 is'a side elevation of the fire-box end'of the locomotive'with the cab shown in section; the engine and trucks being omitted in the dilierent figures. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view and partial side elevation of the smoke-box end of a locomotive. showing my invention applied to a locomotive using saturated steam.-

Fig. 4 is affront elevation of Fig. with the front head removed and thesaddle casting broken away. v

In the particular e'xe'mulificatio: of my invention. it is shown in Fig. l. applied to a common type ofc c'tion of simple locomotive provided In the fiVll known type of Specification of Letters Fatent.

Patented Jet .19, 1 915.

super-heater; the invention, however, being adapted for use in connection with the various types of locomotives; with orf without superheaters. 4

The improved means is, more; especially intended to be located in the siilhl'ie-box i") forward of the flue-sheet ,6 ofthe boiler which latter is partially shown in section. in Fig. 1, with the rear or fire bo x 'end thereof being shown in side-elevationjvin Fig} 2 wherein the cab 8 is shown in partial section. The steam-domei is providedwith the usual throttle at. 10' whereby ,tlie p of steam into the, dry stdeaii pi e11 "v is c n trolled. The steam islcd by'fine awf'pip'e 11 into the. rear,chamlier lilb' I A heatenfrom whence itl isled vlo l series of pipes 13 rearwaiidint .the' enl'a fire-fines 1% and thence ward chamber .15 of'lthe silp'er I means of the return. pipe. 16;; st erheatcd steam is then led} ifi nsiotv p duits or stean'i-pipes 1 7 to lawman-aims oi" the cylinders on both side-sol; the loconio ti ve in the usual well kno vi n manner. i

In the constructionillustrated, the smoke; box 5 is provided witha partitionlh located for-ward of the-superheateiz, and, therefore, forward of the frontcnds ofthe fire/-11: the partition 18 being secured to the smolrebox shell so as to make an air. tightcom partment. The partition 18 provided with a suitable openingyarraiigegi at the desired place. .which is provided with the tapering or approximately. .frustoconical shell 19 which latter registers with .the intake point of a suitable blower orv fan rota tahly mounted in the shell. or vcasingflO. The blower communicates with the smokestack 21 by means of the delivery, conduit 22; the blower causinga peripheral d s charge of the gases intothe. stack 21.

The fan or blower isshown driven by, a steam t n-twine. which may, be offla well known typelocated inthe casing 23 and preferably forward of .;l;l1 -2,l }l0W9!' lreing directly connected with the fanpr blower; as in the construction set forth in m 'evious Patent K010159378. of AprilQQ, 1.9;?

ioo

The driving means Oli f4flfbiil3 my lnproved construction is arrangedto receive conduits. f a

dently fountain 25, see Fig. 2, and also provided with a "alve 26 located at any suitable pointin the cab of the locomotive whereby the flow ofsteam through the conduit may be controlled by the engineer.

At a suitable point intermediate of the driving means or turbine and the valve 26, the conduit or line 24 is provided with a suitable connection 27 provided with a cutout or valve 28. The connection 27 permits the conduit 24 to be connected with a live steam or compressed air line in the round house while the locomotive is being fired, previous to the generation of steam.

At a point in advance of the point of delivery of steam conduit 24 to the driving means or turbine 23, the conduit or line is provided with a suitable check valve as at 29, whereby the flow of steam to the driving means may be automatically controlled.

Intermediate of the checking valve 29 and connection 27, I show theconduit or line 24 provided with a suitable valve 30; and located in advance thereof, relative to the travel of steam, the line 24 is provided with the auxiliary draft inducing means or blower 31 which is provided with a suitable valve 32. The valve 32 controls the passage \of steam-through the auxiliary blower line 31, which may be operated in any desired manner. With valve 32 closed steam will not be passing through blower line 31 under normal conditions; the blower line being especially intended for use when the mechanical draft inducing means is inoperative.

The steam line or conduit 24 conveys the steam to the driving means orturbine 23 by means of the connection 33; and .the exhaust steam from the turbine is conveyed by pipe or conduit 34 into the atmosphere in any suitable manner; for example the pipe 34 may be arranged to discharge the steam into the stack 21 as shown in Fig. l. p

The exhaust steam from the steam chests of the cylinders is freely delivered into the atmosphere by means of suitable pipesor conduits, as for example by exhaust pipes 35, which are shown extending about the outside of the boiler shell and terminate in a single delivery end 35" at a point forward of the smoke stack 21. The method of conveying the exhaust steam from the steam chests of the cylinders illustrates a convenient manner of accomplishing the purpose, but it is readily apparent that the conduits may be differently arranged without, however, causing any back pressure.

In addition to the live steam line 24 whereby steam for operating turbine 23 is provided, I provide a line or conduit 36 which connects with the connection 33 and is adapted to supply steam to the driving means or turbine only when the throttle has .been opened. The line or conduit 36 in the particular construction illustrated, is shown connected with the forward or superheated steam compartment 15 of the superheater, so that steam will only flow through conduit 36 after the throttle has been opened to allow steam to pass through pipe 11 from the steam dome of the boiler and into the superheater. In order that the fiow of steam through conduit 36 may be shut off when desired, I show the conduit provided with asuitable valve as at 37, which may either be operable from the outside of the boiler-shell, or through the door in the front head of the smoke box, as under ordinary conditions valve 37 would remain open; again this valve may be arranged to be operable from the cab of the locomotive. The steam line 36 is also provided with a suitable check valve 38, which, like valve 29, will prevent the backing up of steam from line 36 -into line 24 or "ice-versa. The valves 29 and 38 may be so constructed as to automatically close when steam is admitted either into conduit 24 or conduit 36. For

example, with valve 29 arranged to automatically close under the conditions just recited, it will positively prevent the passage of saturated steam from line 24 when the locomotive is Working superheated steam;

- while the automatic closing of valve 38 will prevent the passage of superheated steam when the locomotive is working saturated steam, thereby greatly. increasing the economy of operation of the driving means or steam turbine 23. The valves 29 and 33 are illustrated as simple, separate check valves of proper size, although it would be possible to combine these features into a comparatively compact self -contained fitting which may be conveniently attached to the turbine inlet.

Intermediate of the connection 33 and the driving means or turbine 23, I provide a pressure regulating governor 39 possessing the function of automatically shutting off the steam supply to the driving means or turbine when a maximum pressure has been obtained, so that the draft or pull on the fire will be reduced and the locomotive prevented from wasting steam through the safety valves. The governor 39 is provided with the line 40 which communicates with the steam space of the boiler in any convenient manner; in the illustration in Fig.

1, this line is shown extending to and secured in the front flue-sheet of the boiler at a point above the dry steam pipe 11.

The operation of my invention is as follow'szassuniing that the locomotive is cold and'standing in the round house, in

order to fire up and get the locomotive in readiness for the road, connection is made with the round house blower line, by means of connection 27, and valve 28 opened, while valve 26 in the rear end of line 2%, is closed; and valve 30 so operated as to permit the steam from the round house line or air to pass through line 2* and the driving means or turbine 23; or through the auxiliary blower 31 which is accomplished by opening valve 32 and closing valve 30. As soon as sufficient pressure is available, it is preferable to set the turbine in operation on account of the blower or fan 20 possessing greater efficiency than auxiliary blower 31. When the turbine is brought into operation, the valve 29 will permit a free flow of steam or air into the turbine, or driving means 23, while valve 38, however, will automatically close and prevent the backing up of steaminto the superheater, (in the particular type of locomotive shown) or into the dry pipe and connecting conduits which lead to the steam-chests of the cylinders, as that would result in a very objectionable construction. After a sutlicient head of steam has been raised in the locomotiveboiler, the connection at 27 is broken, valve 28 closed, and steam supplied by means of pipe 2-1 from fountain 25, through the opening of valve 26. As soon as a full head of steam has been obtained, valve 26 is either partially or wholly closed, so that the driving means or turbine 23 will either operate at a very slow or greatly reduced speed or entirely stop. lVith the locomotive ready to move out of the round-house, the main locomotive throttle is then opened and steam admitted into the dry pipe or conduit l1, and in turn into the superheater chambers 12 and 15 successively, and thence into conduit 36. The admission of the steam into conduit 36 will move or open valve 38 and permit the steam to enter connection 33 and be delivered to the driving means or turbine 23. The admission of steam beyond check valve 38 will induce check valve 29 to close and thus prevent the steam backing up into conduit 24. Through the opening of the throttle, therefore, the turbine 23 is started either at full or partial speed depending upon the pressure in the superfan or blower 20 and consequently induce a draft through the boiler and increase the action upon the fire correspondingly.

lVith my improved construction, it the How of steam through conduit 36 is of such volume as to cause the turbine to operate at such speed so as to produce draft causing a higher rate of consumption than is required to generate sufficient steam for the operation of the locomotive, resulting in the boiler pressure reaching popping off point, the governor mechanism will an tomatically close off the steam supply to the driving means or turbine The 1110- tive power for the blower or fan having been shut off, it is evident that the draft or pull on the fire will be decreased and thus prevent the locomotive from popping otl".

If, during the operation of the locomotive. the pressure in the superheater chamber 15 should fall below the pressure necessary to operate driving means or turbine 23 at full speed, and it is still necessary to maintain that full speed, the valve 26 may be opened allowing steam to flow from the steam space of the boiler or from fountain 25, in the construction illustrated. The steam flowing through conduit 21 will open check valve 29 because of the greater pressure upon the under side thereof in view of the reduced pressure obtained through the flow of steam through conduit 36. Steam, therefore, will be allowed to flow to the turbine '23 from conduit 21 and supplement the steam entering through conduit 86 and thereby operate the turbine at a greater speed, consequently inducing a higher rate of combustion, resulting inthe generation of sutiicient steam to build up the falling boiler pressure.

As is clearly evident from the construction shown and described, when it is desired to stop the locomotive, the main locomotive throttle is closed by the engineer, whichin turn will automatically close off the flow of steam to turbine because of the fact that no steam pressure will be obtained in the. superheater chamber, or in the dry pipe, thus resulting in the draft inducing means becoming inoperative and necessarily cutting down the draft and consequent pull on the fire, thereby reducing the combustion to a rate commensurate with that of the conditions encountered by the locomotive. If it should be still desired to build up the fire, valve 26 maybe opened and blower or fan 20 operated either at full or partial speed to meet the requirements.

In Figs. 3 and 4, I show the application of my invention to a locomotive employing saturated steam, so that the line or conduit 36 connects with the dry pipe 11, or with the T head 41 with which the conduit 17 connects,-Whereby the steam is led to the steam chests of the cylinders. As the super-- he: ter is not employed, the fire fines 14 are of the usual construction and if desired the partition 18 may be brought closer to the tirwtlucs; the partition being provided with an opening which communicatrs with the blower or fan 20, as in the pic iously described construction; the fan or blower bcing operated by the turbine or motor 23 directly connected thereto as in the previouslyshown construction. The motor or turbine receives the steam either by means of line 2 1* which extends backu ard to the cab of the locomotive and communicates with the steam space of the boiler or with a fountain as shown at 25 in Fig. 2; this line being provided with the cut-off or valve and with the connection 27*; or the turbine receives steam by means of line 36 which latter has a cut-elf or valve 37*. Both lines 2% and 36 are provided with the check valves 29 and 38 As in the previously shown construction, I provide the regulatin governor 39 whereby the maximum pressure in the boiler will automatically control the steam supply for the turbine. As previously described, it is evident that if steam is not flowing through conduit 24, the blower or fan will only be in operation when the throttle of the locomotive is open, thereby admitting steam from the steam dome of the locomotive into dry pipe 11 from whence it flows by means of conduit 236" to the turbine. This condition will be maintained unless the boiler pressure reaches popping oif point, in which event the governor will automatically shut off the iiow of steam from conduit or line 3! to the turbine and hence stop the operation of the fan or blowe' and thereby decrease the draft or pull upon the tire.

I ha \e shown and described my invention in connection with several types of locomotives, but it will be understood that the invention may be readily adapted for generai *vre on any class of locomotive or steam. g nerator, and the constructions ii? strated and described may be modified in rtain details without, however, departin: from the spirit of my intention, and 1 do not wish to be understood, therefore, as limiting myse f to the exact constructions shown and dm-scribcd.

\Vhat I ciaim is:-

1. Draft inducing means for a locomotive haiing a boiler provided with a smoke-stack and a throttle, comprising means communicating with the smoke stack whereby draft is mechanically induced, and means intermediate of the throttle and said first mentioned means whereby the latter is automatically operated when the throttle is opened.

Draft inducing means for a locomotive having a boiler provided with a smoke-stack and a throttle, comprising means communicating with the smoke stack whereby draft mechanically induced, means intermed ate of the throttle and the first mentioned means whereby the latter is automatically operated when the throttle is opened, and means \vhereby the first mentioned means is controlled when the boiler pressure reaches a predetermined degree.

3. Draft inducing means for a locomotive provided with: a smoke-stack, a cab and a throttle, comprising means communicating with the smoke stack whereby draft is mechanically induced, means operable from the cabof the locomotive whereby steam is supplied to said first mentioned means, and meansavhereby steam is supplied to the first mentioned means when the throttle of the locomotive is opened.

a. Draft inducing means for a locomotive provided with a smoke-stack and a throttle comprising means communicating with the smoke stack whereby draft is mechanically induced, a, pipe line adapted to receive an operating medium from a source of supply, and a second line intermediate of the throttle and the first mentioned means whereby steam is supplied to the latter independently of said first mentioned pipe line.

5. Draft inducing means for a locomotive provided with a smoke-stack and a throttle comprising means communicating with the smoke stack whereby draft is mechanically induced, a pipe line adapted to receive steam or other operating medium from a source of supply and arranged to deliver it to the first mentioned means, a sec -nd ine intermediate of the throttle and the first mentioned means wlnareby the latter is supplierrwith steam when the throttle is opened, and means lo =ated in said lines whereby flow of the steam or operating medium from one line into the other is prevented.

6. Draft inducing means for a locomotive pro ided with a smoke-stack and a throttle comprising means communicating with the smoke stack whereby draft is mechanically induced, a pipeline adapted to receive steam or other operating medium from a source of supply and to operate said first mentioned means, a second line intermediate of the throttle and the first mentioned means whereby steam is supplied to the latter when the throttle is opened, and means whereby the first mentioned means is controlled when the boiler pressure reaches a predetermined degree.

7. Draf t inducing means for a locomotive provided with a smoke-stack and a throttle comprising meanscommunicating with the smoke stack whereby draft is mechanically induced, a pipe line adapted to receive steam or other operating medium from a source of supply to operate the first mentioned means, asecond line intermediate of the throttle and the first mentioned means whereby steam is supplied t6 the latter when the throttle is opened, means located in said lines whereby flow of steam or other operatadapted ing medium from one line into the other prevented, and means whereby the first mentioned means is automatically controlled when the boiler pressure reaches a predetermined degree.

In draft inducing means for a locomotive provided with a boiler having fire-flues, a smoke-stack and a throttle, the combination of a smokcbox' or chamber forward of the the fines of the boiler of the locomotive, driving means arranged in said chamber, and draft inducing mechanism directly connected with said driving means and in communication with the smoke stack, the suction end of said mechanism communicating with the forward ends of the fire fines of the boiler of the locomotive, with a pipe line adapted to receive steam or other operating medium from a source of supply, and a second pipe line intermediate of the throttle of the locomotive and the driving means whereby steam will be supplied to the latter when the throttle is opened.

9. In draft inducing means for a locomotive having a boiler provided with fire-fines and a throttle. the combination of means located forward of the fire fines of the boiler of the locomotive whereby draft is mechani cally induced, with a pair of lines adapted to convey steam to said means to operate the same, one of the lines communicating with the steam space of the boiler while the other communicates with the steam supply ob tained through operation of the locomotive throttle. and means for automatically determining the line adapted to supply the steam for operating said draft inducing means.

10. in draft inducing means for a locomotive provided with a boiler having fireiines and a throttle, the combination of means lo cated forward of the fire fines of the boiler to mechanically induce draft through the fire ilues of the boiler, a pair of lines adapted to convey steam to said means to operate the same,one of the lines communicating with the steam space of the boiler while the other communicates with the steam supply obtained through operation of the locomotive throttle, and means for automatically determining the line adapted to supply the steam for operating said draft inducting means, with means controlled by the boiler pressure and adapted to control the steam supply for said draft operating means.

11. In draft inducing means for a locomotive having a boiler provided with tirefiues and a throttle, the combination of means located forward of the ire fines of the boiler for mechanically inducing draft, and a pair of lines adapted to convey steam to said means to operate the same, one of the lines communicating with the steam space of the boiler, while the other communicates with the steam supply obtained through operation of the locomotive throttie, with means arranged to be controlled by the boiler pressure and adapted to automatically control the steam supply for said draft inducing means. i v

12. In draft inducing means for a locomotive having av boiler with fire-fines and an auxiliary blower, the combination of means located forward of the fire fines of the boiler adapted to mechanically induce draft, with a pair of lines adapted to convey steam to said means to operate the same, one of said lines communicating with the steam space of the boiler and adapted to supply steam to the auxiliary blower of the locomotive, and means whereby the direction of flow through said lines is controlled.

13. In draft inducing means for a locomotive provided with a boiler having the lines and a throttle, the combination of means located forward of the fire fines of the boiler for mechanically inducing draft therein, with a pair of lines adapted to convey steam to said means to operate the same, one of said lines communicating with the steam space of the boiler and arranged to receive steam or other operating medium from an extraneous source while the other line communicates with the steam supply obtained through operation of the locomotive throttle. and means for independently controlling the flow through said lines.

11. Draft inducing means for a locomotive provided with a boiler having fire- ,lues and a throttle, comprising means located forward of the fire flues formechanically inducing draft therein, a pair of lines adapted to convey steam to said means to operate the same, one of said lines communicating with the steam space of the boiler and. arranged to receive steam or other operating medium from an extraneous source while the other line communicates with the steam supplyobtained through operation ofthe locomotive throttle, and means whereby the steam supply for said draft inducing means will be automatically shut off when the boiler pressure reaches a predetermined degree.

15. Draft inducing means for a locomotive provided with a boiler having fireflues and a throttle, comprising means lo cated forward of the fire fines of the boiler for mechanically inducing draft therein, a pair of lines adapted to convey steam to mid means to operate the same, one of the lines communicating with the steam space of the boiler and arranged to receive steam or other operating medium from an extraneous source while the other line communicates with the steam supply obtained through operation of the locomotive throttle, means for automatically determining the line adapted to supply the steam for operating said draft inducing means, an

means arranged to automatically shut off the steam supply for the draft inducing means when the boiler pressure reaches a predetermined degree.

16. Draft inducing means for a locomotive provided with a boiler having fire-fines, an auxiliary blower and a throttle, comprising means located forward of the fire flues of the boiler for mechanically inducing draft therein, a pair of lines adapted to convey steam to said means to operate the same, one of the lines communicating with the steam space of the boiler and arranged to supply steamto the auxiliary blower of the locomotive, means adapted to control the direction of flow through said line, While the other line communicates with the steam supply obtained through operation of the locomotive throttle, means for automatically determining the line adapted to supply the steam for operating said draft inducing means, and means adapted to automatically shut off the steam supply to said draft inducing means when the boiler pressure reaches a predetermined degree.

HELON B. MACFARLAND.

Witnesses:

GEORGE HEIDMAN, N. A. STREET. 

